Chapter 32 - Arjuna’s Eulogy of the Sun-god

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Arjuna (Nara) established a solar shrine to the northern side of Ujjayinī. Arjuna got the idol of the Sun from Indra after defeating Asuras.

Sanatkumāra said:

1. Henceforth I shall describe another deity, Divākara (Sun), called Narāditya, merely by a visit to whom, one is rid of all ailments.

2-4. I shall narrate to you how Narāditya came to be installed. When the battle between the blood-born and sweat-born ones had been prevented, Lord Nara and Nārāyaṇa incarnated on the earth. They were born of fair lady Kuntī and of Devakī in Mathurā respectively. Thus they remained in the world very brilliant and extremely flourishing. The reason for the birth of Kṛṣṇa was different than that of the birth of Dhanañjaya.

5. He (Kṛṣṇa) killed all the Dānavas beginning with Kaṃsa in battle. Thereupon, Pārtha went to Svarga for the purpose of learning the use of missiles from Vāsava (Indra).

6-7. After the warrior had completed the learning (the secret of missiles) he proposed to the Lord of Devas what he should give as Dakṣiṇā. The Lord of Devas requested for the following Dakṣiṇā: “May the fierce demons Nivātakavacas, the residents of Hiraṇyapura, be killed quickly, O Arjuna. This is my Dakṣiṇā.”

8-9. The slaying of those wicked ones was solemnly promised by Arjuna. He rode on the chariot of Indra and took up the bow and arrows. After carrying out that very difficult task of killing them, he delighted all the heaven-dwellers.

10-11. Śakra said to Arjuna who had completed the task, the following words: “O warrior, whatever rare thing in the mortal world is desired by you mentally, O Pārtha, you choose it.” He requested for two idols worshipped by Brahmā himself.

12. They were handed over to Dakṣa by Brahmā who was pleased (with him). They, the idols which dispelled darkness, were worshipped by Dakṣa for more than a Yuga.

13. When the battle between Suras and Asuras began, Śakra who had been defeated by the Dānavas and whose kingdom had been taken away, went to forest.

14. Śatakratu stood on one leg and performed a very severe penance for a period of one thousand divine years. Then Bṛhaspati met him.

15-18a. On seeing the Lord of Devas, Bṛhaspati said to him: “O Śakra, how is it that you have come to this forest leaving the heavenly world? Enemies cannot be conquered by you living in the forest alone. O king of Devas, hasten to the hermitage of Dakṣa after keeping this in mind. The two idols made out of Pārijāta by Viśvakarmā were given to him by Brahmā. Now you request Prajāpati (Dakṣa) for them. By the adoration of those two idols, the enemies will be annihilated.”

18b-19. Lord Śatakratu was delighted by these words of his preceptor. He hurriedly went to the place where Dakṣa, the Prajāpati, was present. He then humbly requested him for the two idols. Thereupon Dakṣa gave the excellent idols to Śakra.

20. O Vyāsa, the idols were worshipped by Śakra for a hundred years. All the Dānavas perished due to the brilliance of those two idols.

21. The idols said to Śakra: “Choose an excellent boon. O Vāsava, know that we have become much delighted by this devotion.”

22-23. O excellent Brāhmaṇa, delighted in his mind, Śakra chose the boon: “Our enemies, the Dānavas, are evil-minded. May all of them be destroyed. This is the boon desired by me. I wish to worship both of you till I become Indra once again.”

24. Saying “So be it,” the two idols went to heaven. Arjuna said to Śakra: “For the accomplishment of an excellent objective, I request you for the two idols, which are urgently needed.

Indra said:

25-30. Very well, O Pārtha. Excellent! These two idols continue to be here. They have been worshipped by the noble-souled Śaṅkara with red lotuses for a period of a day of Brahmā, for the protection of the three worlds. They have been adored by Viṣṇu with sweet-smelling blue lilies for a period of full thousand years.

Thereafter, Brahmā, desirous of carrying on the activities of creation, worshipped the two idols with lotuses and splendid red lilies with great attention and mental purity. How will you (alone), O Pārtha, take them to the mortal world? Svarga without these two will be on a par with death.

When Devendra was not willing to give them, Arjuna bowed down to him and said: “I do not seek them by means of this boon, O Lord.” Thereupon O eminent sage, Śakra said to Pārtha once again:

31-33. “O brave warrior, take these and instal them in Kuśasthalī. It is on the northern bank of Śiprā where Keśava, the destroyer of all sins, stands near Keśavārka. Install them there for the sake of destroying all sins. The Yātrā (religious procession) shall be in the months of Āṣāḍha and Kārttika. I shall come there accompanied by a group of Apsarases. Maruts and the Clouds along with Lightning will also come.

34. When the Clouds come up in parts and when I shower, the people will say: ‘Oh! Purandara has come.’

35. After bowing down to Bhāskara (the Sun), the Lord worshipped by Brahmā and others, O Bībhatsu (i.e. Arjuna) I shall return in the manner I had come.”

36 Thus, O Vyāsa, Vāsava gave to Pārtha the pair of idols and sent him back to Bhūrloka along with his charioteer.

37-39. Nārada went to Dvārakā on being summoned by Kṛṣṇa. He told Keśava all the words uttered by Devarāja secretly: “O Kṛṣṇa, come to Kuśasthalī. The two idols exquisitely fashioned out of Pārijāta by Viśvakarman have been given to you and to the Pāṇḍava.” On hearing these words, Śauri started for the city of Avantī.

40. From the sky he got down and embraced Phālguna, the son of Pāṇḍu. After embracing him closely, he spoke to him:

41. “O Arjuna, my birth has become fruitful. I am delighted. Since my pleasure is unparalleled let the excellent task be carried out.”

42. After saying thus, O Vyāsa, both of them came to Kuśasthalī. Kṛṣṇa whose wish had been completely fulfilled spoke to Pārtha:

43-44. “O Arjuna, go to the east and instal one of the idols. The Lagna will be auspicious and pleasant in the forenoon. O sage, I shall go to the river in the northern direction. With the sound of my conch instal Lord Ravi.”

45. O Vyāsa, Pārtha then went to the east and found out a splendid spot. He installed Dinanātha (the Sun-god) firmly.

46-51. While the son of Pāṇḍu was thinking. ‘I shall instal Lord Arka,’ the idol told him: “Make the spot splendid.” The idol was unbearable in its splendour. When the idol was speaking thus, Savyasācī was afraid to see it. Unable to bear the brilliance, he spoke to the Lord: “O Lord, where shall I instal you? What spot appeals to you? O Lord of rays, be gentle in form and easily perceptible to the subjects. May Devas stationed in heaven, Nāgas residing in Pātāla, and human beings staying on the earth—may all these be sanctified at your sight.” The Lord then spoke to Arjuna, “Do not be afraid of my sight.” Thereafter with a gesture of granting freedom from fear by means of his right hand, he calmed and consoled him. The Lord then assumed a gentle form.

52. His own radiance was displayed by Lord Prabhākara. Then Sūrya said: “This is my permanent spot.”

53. When the Lagna approached, the great conch (Śaṅkha) was blown by Hari. Sūrya eulogized by the immortal ones was installed by Nara.

Arjuna said:

(Arjuna’s Prayer to the Sun)

54. The shining Lord of rays has made his rays cool and calm. He is the abode of all universe. His laughter is loud reverberating in the eastern quarter. By eulogizing him, limbs of men affected by great many sins and defects become free from sins (or defects).

55. Which poet can aspire to eulogize adequately Pataṅga (the Sun-god) prayed to by Brahmā and other sages? Yet, O Lord of excellent intellect, I shall elaborately eulogize you. When the Moon has risen, does not a lamp also shine?

56. You are eulogized by the sages expert in Śāstras, Artha and Kama (wealth and love). Is there anything pertaining to you which has not been well-composed (in poems) through diverse usages? The entire universe appears as though (its) full essence has been extracted and drunk by the ancient sages beginning with Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa).

57. Still after deep thinking, I shall glorify the pair of feet of Bhānu (the Sun) (who is) eulogized by the preceptor of the three worlds in rhymes having clear meanings, sweet euphonic junctions of syllables in diverse movements.

58. O Lord, as long as you do not rise with pure disc resembling a lotus, dispelling darkness by means of your rays, the whole of the universe will be motionless and the different kinds of holy rites do not become fruitful.

59. As long as you do not awaken them by means of your excellent lustre, free from impurities, the tops of trees agitated by bees appear to be asleep with their bunches of flowers closed as though they were their closed eyes.

60. As you rise up in the sky, Devas and groups of Suras and Siddhas along with Brahmā, Daityas, Sages, Kinnaras, Nāgas and Yakṣas adore you, with their heads bowed down, emitting excellent lustre from the jewels of their crowns that continue to move.

61. O bestower of boons, when you set, the universe becomes asleep. Again when you begin to blaze (shine), that becomes awakened. This routine procedure goes on forever, for the sake of the welfare of all the worlds. O holy Lord, you are the only dispeller of darkness.

62. O Lord, it is certainly the absence of devotion to you that is the cause, if the tasks of men do not yield fruits despite the fact that they are endowed with enthusiasm, capacity, stratagem and heroism, and that they are eager to adhere to the procedure to an arrangement for the application of service.

65. The fact that in the course of battles men quickly attain success after conquering their enemies by means of their chariots, elephants, javelins, Śaktis, iron-tipped arrows, discuses, arrows, mallets and terrible swords, is always (really) your own activity, O Lord, favourably disposed towards those who bow down.

64. Those who are caught in difficult, rugged and impassable paths of forests, full of bears, elephants, lions, many robbers and thorny bushes, those who are stupefied in their minds due to many a sorrow, become free from the fear of death only due to their eulogy and glorification of you.

65. You are a mass of refulgence. You alone are the refuge unto those who are miserable in every respect. In the entire universe there is no one equal to you in being compassionate. All types of devotion can be traced solely to you. If men resort to you, how can ailment and misery have their way.

66. ‘Who is attacked by leprosy? Who is assailed by enemies? Who is afflicted by ailments? Who are lame, blind and intellectually sluggish? Who is hurt in the leg? Who is incapacitated in his activity?’ Thus, O Lord, out of sympathy, you observe and save them. Who else is promptly engaged in helping others as you are?

67. If Dharma is resorted to, it stands in good stead in the other world. Gods become bestowers of boons after a lapse of some time. O Lord, favourably disposed towards those who bow down to you, when served by those who desire prosperity, you immediately accord the benefit desired by them.

68. If you are pleased with men and bestow boons, their houses become filled with graceful, charming women whose attractive and tremulous eyes resemble those of fawns, and who are bedecked in exquisitely beautiful necklaces, jewelled earrings and girdles.

69. O Lord of the universe, if you are bowed to even once by men, if you are meditated upon at the time of death, even evil-doers become free from sins and those who are free from impurities attain the goal (or region) of the meritorious.

70. Those who do not bow down to you with devotion causing their bodies bristle with hairs standing on end, because their minds are filled with evil notions, become poor. With throats parched with hunger and faces emaciated, they eagerly look forward to cooked food cast in front of them in other people’s houses.

71. With magnificent, incomparable Vedic passages, you are being eulogized regularly by the chieftains of Nāgas whose heads bow down shining with the rays of the jewels on their hoods (with tongues) appearing (constantly) to lick up (something), and whose pairs of eyes are tremulous like the agitated waves in the waters of the ocean.

72. O Pataṅga, O most excellent one among Suras, the swarms of bees that rise up from the lotuses in the celestial river, bees that are tinged with brown hue by the pollen dust of the golden lotuses wafted by the wind, follow you as you go ahead and act as your Cāmaras (chowries).

73. (Defective verse) With the collections of your rays, you station yourself frequently in the vast expanse of waters and blaze for the sake of all living beings, O Lord. Who is equal to you in the entire space of the three worlds? This is the real knowledge.

74. Whether you are stationed on the ridges of the mountain of sunrise (or are enveloped by your halo) at the times of sunrise and sunset, your rays having the lustre of gold charmingly shine imitating the streaks of lightning.

75. As your chariot proceeds ahead in the sky piercing through the masses of thick clouds of darkness, the movement of the agitated, violent gust of wind appears to produce the sound of Dundubhi frequently.

76. With your hands (rays) you awaken the lotus-pond which has closed its beautiful eyes in the form of lotuses, whose girdle in the form of the whirling Kalahaṃsas and chirping ruddy geese is tinkling and which (the lotus-pond) is like a lovely lady lying exhausted as a result of sexual dalliance.

77. The blue lotus of great splendour and beauty gently moving when agitated from above by the feet of the bees, shines very much like ruby when tinged red, lovingly by your lustrous rays.

78. O Khaga (the Sun moving through the sky), in your lap the shining sky appears like a motionless garment, free from impurities like the refulgent moon or a pearl necklace. It (the sky) is evenly spread, large and unchangingly pale-red in colour.

79. There shall be inauspiciousness in the quarters frequently resorted to by darkness only till it becomes more praiseworthy due to your rays. O bestower of boons, it is not possible even for sages of exalted intellect engaged in the eternal path of Mokṣa, to resort to (compose) an adequate eulogy of your good qualities.

80. You are Viṣṇu; you are the Moon. You are the Sixfaced Lord (Kārttikeya) suppressing the Asuras; you are the Lord of wealth; you are Kāla (Time or the god of Death); you are the creator; you are the refuge unto the mountain Malaya; you are the Fire-god; you are Oṃkāra of the Brāhmaṇas; you are the ocean here; you are the arrow; you are Rudra; you are the chief cloud. You are the vows and observances and restraints; you are the entire universe.

81. O Lord of rays, O uncensurable (praiseworthy) Lord. You are the suppressor of the three Puras; it is you who have burnt down Manmatha. You are the subduer of the terrible arrogance of Asuras; do protect me. You are the Lord of Devas, the excellent lotus-faced one; you are the illustrious preceptor of Devas. Who is equal to you in qualities in the whole region of the three worlds?

82. This person (i.e. I) seeks refuge in you, O Lord of the worlds, O Āditya, O Bhāskara, O Divākara, O Saptasapti (seven-horsed), O Lord of the seven fallow horses, O Mārtaṇḍa, O Sūrya, O Bhānu, O Lord whose vehicle is never tired, O illuminator of the sky, O Gabhastimālin (‘having a garland of many rays’).

83. Obeisance, obeisance to you; you are the Tilaka (beautifying mark on the forehead) of the lady (in the form of the eastern quarter); you are her shining earring; the beloved Lord of Mandākinī; the lamp of the universe, as shining as Hemādri (the golden mountain, Meru); the attractive jewel of the firmament; the reddish tinge in the face of the lady, namely the (evening) dusk.

84. You are Brahman itself, the reality, the auspicious splendour, the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of the courtyard of the firmament, eulogized by the sages, the omniformed one (or whose body is the universe). You are the destroyer of the sorrow of the distressed, the protector of the servants. O Lord, be pleased with me. I have sought refuge in you.

85. I have kept my palms joined together in reverence, on my head, resembling the bud of a lotus. Since you have been eulogized devoutly by me now, hence, O Lord, be gentle to me. Make my mind always directed towards righteousness. Make my glory excellent.

86. Obeisance to Savitṛ (the Sun), the sole eye of the universe, the cause of birth, sustenance and destruction of the universe, identical with the three Vedas, the holder of the three Guṇas in self, identical with Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa and Śaṅkara.

Sūrya said:

87. O Pārtha, I am pleased with you now due to this hymn of prayer. O observer of holy vows, I shall definitely grant you a boon that is present in your mind.

88. Never can my sight be fruitless. There is nothing that cannot be given even with effort especially to heroic ones.

Arjuna said:

89. This alone is the greatest and most excellent of all boons so far as I am concerned, O Lord, that you be present here at all times.

90-92. Wealth, food-grains, sons, wives and other riches, everything desired in the mind should be given to those men who always devoutly pray to you, bowing down to you. This is my boon.

Sanatkumāra said:

Āditya granted the boons to him and spoke these splendid words: “Never shall he deviate from fortune and glory, he, the excellent man who eulogizes me with the prayer composed by you.”